Urban violence and its consequences in a psychosocial care centre in the north zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the interference of urban violence and drug trafficking in a Centro de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS - Psychosocial Care Centre) located in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative research with a theoretical-methodological approach based on the principles of participant observation and on fieldwork. Many CAPS of the north zone are situated in areas of high social risk, where there is intensification of violence. The presence of this social issue reflects on the routine of the service, as it needs to create protective strategies, to perform home visits, to assist drug users with precarious life situation and, also, to face new challenges continuously. RESULTS: The high frequency of perception of social problems like the high rates of violence and criminality, the question of drug trafficking, the increase in social inequality and the consequent overlapping of exclusions to which this part of the population is submitted require new studies that allow to understand the consequences of the impact of violence on the mental health of users of treatment services in the community.